Re: Rate my haul!!!

Originally Posted by SculptureOfSoul

Hi PuddleMonkey -

Just wanted to let you know that if you got a Reflection sample that was EdT, it was from the old bottle. The new bottle Reflection is labeled EdP, and is very strong and long lasting, but from what I've heard is no different than the original besides strength.

Is the color of the juice in your sample a light violet/purple color? If so, I'd gladly be willing to trade you that sample for a couple mL sample of the new juice from my bottle. I am dying to try the old bottle stuff.

Funny you mention that, I haven't opened the card yet, but it does show a purple bottle that's completely different looking than the ones I've seen on-line. It also says EDT on the back. Can't say the juice looks purple, hard to tell with it inside the card, just the picture of the bottle on the front. My first sampling came from the shops tester on my left wrist.

Re: Rate my haul!!!

Originally Posted by PuddleMonkey

I have some Miller Harris on now... not really liking it much. What are some better tobacco's?

Sonoma Scent Studio's Tabac Aurea. I highly recommend this one. Run, don't walk to try this beauty! Utterly astounding. Words fail me. This one will blow you away! Look up some reviews to get an idea. And while your at it, sample others from SSS. Laurie is extremely talented - most of her scents are amazing. http://www.sonomascentstudio.com/tabac4.shtml

A few other great tobacco's are SMN's Acqua di Cuba and Czech & Speake's Cuba.

Please forgive me if I'm rambling. Perhaps I shouldn't post after taking a xanax and drinking a few beers...You have know idea how long it took me to post this short message!

Goodnight...!

"You can ignore reality, but you can't ignore the consequences of ignoring reality."-Ayn Rand

"I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical...It is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government." -Thomas Jefferson

Re: Rate my haul!!!

Originally Posted by StylinLA

Saks has kind of withdrawn to some degree in the frag world-- at least in my view. A couple of months back, my Saks SAs say they eliminated providing them little test spray cards or strips. I was in there today, and unless you want a scent sprayed on your arm, they have to dig around a spray it on Kleenex.

The Beverly Hills Saks goes pretty deep on scents. Bond No. 9 has a big presence. By Killian is there. It's the best source in LA for Guerlain. But outside of those two, it's mostly standard designer fare. Can't remember if they carry Tom Ford. Maybe.

Nieman and Barneys compliment Saks here. There're all within a couple of blocks of each other.

The Beverly Hills Saks has a fair number of testers, but they often have some scents with no testers open- especially when you're looking at something a bit out of mainstream like Mouchoir de Monsieur.

I'm pretty familiar with Portland, and I know it's probably not a very "frag friendly" city. I have seen write ups about that house you pictured in other forums. It's kind of a tough city for niche scents. Still, kind of a bummer the Portland Saks seems to be pretty mainstream in their fragrance department.

One trick I've noticed for you next trip. Some of the scents in Saks may be kept in the women's department. Don't ask me to explain the rationale. But in Bev Hills, the Guerlains and Bond No. 9 are all in the women's department along with the feminine offerings from those house. If anything is remotely unisex in my Saks, it's in the larger women's cosmeitics/fragrance department.

Good info, thanks.

The Perfume House uses cotton balls for test strips. First I've seen of it.

Re: Rate my haul!!!

Funny, I almost stopped in there today. I was in Hawthorn buying some lunch at Toney Bento. I have to be very careful going in there. I can lose hours just checking out their stuff. They have a great collection of Carons, Creeds, Chanels, and L'Artisans in additions to those you mentioned. I find one of the SA's a little off putting, she can be condescending and elitist (she told me I was too young and unrefined to wear Erolfa), but the other younger woman there is really great. If you go in during a weekday you can have the place almost to yourself. Lots of trouble to get into there.

Re: Rate my haul!!!

Originally Posted by PuddleMonkey

Funny you mention that, I haven't opened the card yet, but it does show a purple bottle that's completely different looking than the ones I've seen on-line. It also says EDT on the back. Can't say the juice looks purple, hard to tell with it inside the card, just the picture of the bottle on the front. My first sampling came from the shops tester on my left wrist.

Re: Rate my haul!!!

Originally Posted by SlimPickins

Funny, I almost stopped in there today. I was in Hawthorn buying some lunch at Toney Bento. I have to be very careful going in there. I can lose hours just checking out their stuff. They have a great collection of Carons, Creeds, Chanels, and L'Artisans in additions to those you mentioned. I find one of the SA's a little off putting, she can be condescending and elitist (she told me I was too young and unrefined to wear Erolfa), but the other younger woman there is really great. If you go in during a weekday you can have the place almost to yourself. Lots of trouble to get into there.

Re: Rate my haul!!!

Originally Posted by PuddleMonkey

Does this help? I guess I could always just open the damn thing.

Lol, well, that does help, sort of. The only thing is there was a period where I believe they were putting the new juice (which is everso slightly yellowish/amber in color) in the old bottles, as I have seen pictures of the old bottle with a darker juice in it. As far as I know the original EdT was always a light light light purple/lilac color.

Re: Rate my haul!!!

Nice thread. Sounds like an awesome place to visit. I've ordered from them before (got a great deal on the three CdG Synthetics that I was missing) and they were great to deal with. If I ever make it out to Portland, I'm definitely going there.

Re: Rate my haul!!!

Originally Posted by SculptureOfSoul

Lol, well, that does help, sort of. The only thing is there was a period where I believe they were putting the new juice (which is everso slightly yellowish/amber in color) in the old bottles, as I have seen pictures of the old bottle with a darker juice in it. As far as I know the original EdT was always a light light light purple/lilac color.

Took it out and it's definitely a yellow/amber color. I think I'll wear it to work tomorrow and see how long it lasts.

Re: Rate my haul!!!

Originally Posted by ajmc

Sonoma Scent Studio's Tabac Aurea. I highly recommend this one. Run, don't walk to try this beauty! Utterly astounding. Words fail me. This one will blow you away! Look up some reviews to get an idea. And while your at it, sample others from SSS. Laurie is extremely talented - most of her scents are amazing. http://www.sonomascentstudio.com/tabac4.shtml

Re: Rate my haul!!!

Saks at Bridgeport isn't a proper Saks. It's Sak's Off Fifth Avenue which is sort of Saks discount outlet. But, the one downtown is not great either. Parking is no problem. Just find one of the many Smart Park garages and pay. The trick with downtown Portland is to Smart Park your car as soon as you can and then walk around. It's a very walkable downtown.

I'm not a Motorcyclist myself (I've always said that I'll try it as soon as they make one with a star on the hood ornament) but there are several major dealerships in the area. Friends tell me that Paradise Harley Davidson is worthy of its name.

Re: Rate my haul!!!

^ LMAO - I gotta move!

Oh, hell yes I've been to Powell's. That place is geek heaven! I almost died of laughter when I saw all of the famous scientist "action figures" (as if) in the checkout line.

Totoro is a mythical crypto-beast from what is arguably Miyazaki's greatest anime, Tonari no Totoro (very roughly translated to "My Neighbor Totoro" for US distribution). The movie is marketed in the US as a kiddie flick, but it's more of a cross between old Disney and an adult-oriented childhood remembrance film - almost Spielbergian in emotion, but deployed in a far more subtle way. Totoro never says anything, and steals your heart because of it. Brilliant story and execution - Miyazaki could have never done anything else and he would have been remembered as the king of anime for this one.